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In 1902, the Arizona Eastern Railway asked for donations of right of way in order to establish a rail line between Phoenix and Florence. A rail siding was established on property owned by William "Bobby" Gilbert. The siding, and the town that sprung up around it, eventually became known as Gilbert. Gilbert was a prime farming community, fueled by the construction of the Roosevelt Dam and the Eastern and Consolidated Canals in 1911. It remained an agriculture town for many years, and was known as the "Hay Capital of the World" until the late 1920s. Gilbert began to take its current shape during the 1970s when the Town Council approved a strip annexation that encompassed 53 square miles of county land. Although the population was only 1,971 in 1970 the Council realized that Gilbert would eventually grow and develop much like the neighboring communities of Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler. This proved to be a farsighted decision as Gilbert positioned itself for growth in the 1980s and beyond.
Gilbert has experienced a rapid transition from a historically agriculture-based community to an urban center and suburb in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. In the last two decades, Gilbert has grown at a pace unparalleled by most communities in the United States, increasing in population from 5,717 in 1980 to over 138,000 in January 2003. As Gilbert has grown, the community has recognized the need to develop a strong, diverse economy while preserving its highly desirable quality of life. To proactively direct the growth and development of the community, the Town Council adopted the General Plan 2001 on July 10, 2001, which revised existing elements, added those required under Arizona "Growing Smarter" legislation, and incorporated new land use and economic growth considerations.
The Town of Gilbert is continuously planning for the future in order to meet the needs of tomorrow. As the Town continues to grow so does Gilberts commitment to providing residents, businesses and employees with the best possible services, programs and accommodations. Several new projects, recently completed or currently under construction, demonstrate this commitment. These include the new Public Safety Complex, Community Development Building, Freestone Recreation Center and the Towns continued investment in the Heritage District.
New Regional Mall
In 1998, Gilbert established zoning for the Town's first regional mall. Westcor, the developer of Superstition Springs, Chandler Fashion Center and many other shopping centers in the Phoenix area, will develop the regional mall. The mall will be adjacent to the new Santan Freeway, bordered roughly by Greenfield Road, Ray Road, and Williams Field Road as it makes its way through central Gilbert. Construction of the freeway is expected to reach the mall site by 2006. The power center, located just south of the mall site, is expected to have businesses open by Fall 2004.
Gateway Area Plan
The Town Council adopted the Gateway Area Plan on July 25, 2000. The plan is part of the General Plan 2001, ratified by Gilbert voters in November 2001. The Gateway Character Area is adjacent to Williams Gateway Airport and Arizona State University East Campus. These two facilities are in Mesa, but their entrances are adjacent to Gilbert. The Gateway Character Area covers approximately 4,320 acres, generally located between Warner Road and Pecos Road; from Power Road to Greenfield Road. Gilbert has been a partner in the Williams Gateway Airport Authority since the Air Force announced the closure of Williams Air Force Base in 1992. The Authority and several other regional institutions have converted the base to a mix of employment and educational facilities.
The Gateway Area will establish a neighborhood village feel in the area that serves William Gateway, ASU East, and the thousands of new residents that will be living near both of these facilities. The Gateway Area will not only provide shopping and services, but also a vibrant entertainment element. The combination will create a new traditional village center for the region that will grow with the area as it matures.
Gilbert Strategic Plan
Faced with limited resources and unprecedented growth, the Town of Gilbert has turned to strategic management to transform the entire organization, and the services we provide. In conjunction with the Town of Gilbert Corporate Strategic Plan, the Gilbert Economic Development Department and the Gilbert Economic Development Advisory Board developed the first Gilbert Economic Development Department Five Year Strategic Plan in 1999. Each year the plan is revisited to ensure current economic issues and trends are addressed appropriately by staff. The current plan, now in the process of being updated, addresses advertising, database management, marketing, targeted business clusters, prospect management, department structure and more. Strategic planning is planning for results. Successfully carrying out the plan will ensure positive results now and in the future.
Gilbert Sister Cities
Making the world a better place by bringing people together one friendship at a time was the dream of President Dwight D. Eisenhower 47 years ago when he introduced the Sister Cities concept. Today, Gilbert Town leaders are working to create lasting bonds with others across the world, through the Gilbert Sister Cities program. The local effort started in June 1995 with the intent of forging cultural and economic relationships with cities in South America and Europe. The program coordinates cultural, trade, educational, and sports programs that promote international and intercultural knowledge and understanding.
Gilbert established its first sister city November 17, 1998 with Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. The Borough of Newtownabbey is situated immediately north of Belfast in County Antrim and covers an area of 54 square miles. Newtownabbey is a new town formed in 1958 by an Act of Parliament and has grown steadily over the last twenty years to a population of 85,000. The Borough of Newtownabbey is comprised of two towns and nine villages. Based on Gilberts successful partnership with Newtownabbey, the Board of Directors of Gilbert Sister Cities decided to pursue a second sister city in China. On December 12th, 2000, the Town Council unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the Board of Directors to pursue Leshan, Sichuan, China as its second sister city. An official signing ceremony took place June 4, 2002. Leshan (the name meaning "Pleased with the Place" ) is located in southwest China in the Sichuan Province. Leshan Municipality has a territory of 4,920 square miles and a population of 3.68 million. The city has a history of 3,000 years and is a mix of the very old and very new. As Leshan continues to evolve their market driven economy, community leaders are utilizing their Sister City relationships to acquire information on best practices in other parts of the world for challenges like government operations and protection of resources.
On November 16, 2002, a new partnership was created with the village of Guabuliga, Ghana Africa. This new relationship has been designated a Friendship City which will allow the two communities to work on developing a relationship while building local support and program ideas. Guabuliga is located in the northeast corner of Ghana with a population of 2,000 people. The area is twenty square-miles in size and the economy is based on agriculture.
Each sister city offers Gilbert tremendous cultural and business opportunities. |
